Should I buy a new iPhone 4 or 5?

[Gutwrench]

This is probably a dead thread by now but I'll wade in anyway.

I upgraded from the 4 to the 5. The improvement in the processor speed alone made that worth it. With the 4 I was ambivalent toward Siri, but now with the 5 I found it quite helpful in simple tasks. I probably wouldn't upgrade merely for Siri but I find it more useful than originally expected.

 

[Arnezie]

With technology you never I mean never buy old. Always buy newest you can afford. Fools buy old only to then realize in 6-8 months its so obsolete it ruins the experience of enjoying it. If you got the 200 buy the 5 if you don't have it save it and buy the 5

 

[Datafreak]

Hey people, are the iPhone 5's worth it?

I have an old iPhone4 that I'm happy with and I'm out of contract with AT&T. Since I live and work in buildings that have AT&T antennas above them, I know I'm going to stick with AT&T for the next two years. Therefore, it makes sense for me to sell my existing iPhone 4 for $200 and either

1) buy a new iPhone 4 for $0 (and pocket the 200)

or

2) buy the new iPhone 5 with the 200.

I don't care about Siri, the camera, or the increased size of the iPhone 5. Frankly, I'm even a little worried about the aluminum scuffing on the iphone 5 and I'm annoyed about the adaptor change. Yet obviously it's a newer phone that won't be obsolete, etc. etc.

For those who bought the iphone 5, which option would you recommend? Thanks guys!

You pretty much answered your own question.

 

[bisnicks]

Subjective but some do like the longer but same width screen.

Is there any evidence about this yet?

How is a better screen subjective? It has 40% better contrast, it's not just taller.

Yes. On 3G it way outperforms the 4/4S. On 4G LTE it's about the same as what the 4/4S had. I'd say that's improvement.

 

[breezie]

Thank you for taking the time to put the whole thing into perspective.

How could anyone possibly perceive the 4/4S (under contract) being the correct purchase?. If the OP is set on buying a phone, the 5 is the only logical choice. His current options are getting a $200 phone for $0 or a $600 phone for $200. What he does with the 5 after he buys it (keep or sell and get a 4/4s) is another discussion.

Imagine you're in the market for a new car and you have the choice between a free Honda Civic or $5000 for an antique roaster (valued $100k). Arguing on how you need a reliable car like the Honda to drive daily would in no way justify it as being the correct purchase.

The only reason this logic would fail is if the buyer of the phone was rich and valued the time needed to sell a phone and buy another more than the amount he'd be saving. However, if you're making $400/hr- you really shouldn't be asking the original question in the first place.

 

[brando123b]

Coming from a 4, the 5 is a massive update. Everything is near instant now. Many things which I thought were slow due to 3G, were actually slow because the phone was outdated.

5 > all.

 

[mKTank]

Coming from a 4, the 5 is a massive update. Everything is near instant now. Many things which I thought were slow due to 3G, were actually slow because the phone was outdated.

5 > all.

Oh yeah, that's another thing. Don't know why I forgot. The 4's 3G connectivity is trash. iTunes Match almost never smoothly worked at all. The 4S fixed this but the 5 goes a step further with LTE.


But nooooo the iPhone 4 is still gooood lemme tell you about my .6mbit download speeds and how you're stuck with it for the next 3 years.

 

[imbogus1]

Buy the 5 !!! Incredible performance

 

[AAPLinc]

5 > all.

Internally, yes.

Physically, NOPE!

 

[dejo]

Mod Note: This thread was closed for clean up off off-topic bickering and insults. Now that it's reopened, please stay on topic and within the rules or it will be closed again and those violating the rules will be punished. Thank you.

 

[iClive]

Good call! Thanks

 

[daveathall]

I would sell the iP4 for 200 and get a iPhone 5 on contract for the 200, I would then sell the iPhone 5 for 5 or 6 hundred and then buy a 4S for a couple of hundred which would give me a new, more up to date phone and some money in my pocket.

That is assuming that I didn't need the features on the 5.

 

[FieldingMellish]

Nothing wrong with old tech if you save a bundle and are not hamstrung by the difference. Which means it is about what the buyer expects of a device. One thing is for certain - besides saving, you won't be the one working out the bugs.

I own Macs of all kinds of vintages plus the newer models. The old ones still word process, email, edit images, and all kinds of stuff. Same with the phone. A 4 or 4s will still make calls, do email, text, take pics and whatever else.

 

[QCassidy352]

5 is better in just about every way. It will also seem that much better in two years, when it can run (some of) iOS 8, while the 4 probably won't see an update past iOS 6.

 

[DoNoHarm]

Decided: Going for the 4s

Thanks for all the replies people! I've decided that I'm going for the 4s, as many people on this forum suggested. The primary factor behind my decision was the Siri functionality and the fact that the smaller form factor fits into this nook I use in my car, is more pleasant to hold, and will scratch less easily. In the long run, even if the iphone 5 cost $0 and I had to pay $100 more for the 4s, over two years, $100 is irrelevant.

 

[iClive]

A sensible and well reasoned decision IMHO

 

[VandyChem2009]

Thanks for all the replies people! I've decided that I'm going for the 4s, as many people on this forum suggested. The primary factor behind my decision was the Siri functionality and the fact that the smaller form factor fits into this nook I use in my car, is more pleasant to hold, and will scratch less easily. In the long run, even if the iphone 5 cost $0 and I had to pay $100 more for the 4s, over two years, $100 is irrelevant.

Well I hope you aren't one of those people that like to be up to date because buying the 4s at this point and signing a 2 year contract will have you keeping that until the iPhone 6. If you don't care about being current you are better off with the 4s.

 

[pnoyblazed]

if you don't have an iPhone 5 by now, you might as well wait for the 5S or the 6.. the iPhone 5 is already old news

typical shelf life of smart phones is ~3-4 months

 

[pommie82]

Best thing to do wait for the 5s to come and when one comes available just put your name on one there no point going back in hardware its just pointless because at the end of day things get out of date no matter what.

 

[Jordan921]

Buy the 5! You'll be very happy.

 

[AAPLinc]

I dont see why you would be signing a contract with an iPhone 4 in 2012, almost 2013. I can see if you STILL HAVE the 4, because you've been on contract with it for the last 2 years, but...

Unless you're 60+ years old, or under 18 years old dont get the 4.

That phone will probably become "unsupported" (software updates) by the next iPhone release, or at least by the time the 6 rolls out. At least by Apple's pattern, it seems that way.

I would get the 5, if it were between the 4 and 5, NO DOUBT.

I mean AT LEAST get the 4S.

 

[DoNoHarm]

Mod Note: This thread was closed for clean up off off-topic bickering and insults. Now that it's reopened, please stay on topic and within the rules or it will be closed again and those violating the rules will be punished. Thank you.

Wow, ha ha. Such drama for a simple question!

 

[VandyChem2009]

Wow, ha ha. Such drama for a simple question!

LOL punished.

 

[Bahroo]

Subjective but some do like the longer but same width screen.

Is there any evidence about this yet?

Yeah I get 6 hours of LTE browsing when I would get only 6 hours of 3G on my old iPhone 4. The A6 chip is built on a 32nm design as compared to the 45nm on the A4 chip in the iPhone 5. The faster you can do something on a phone , the less the processor will be on so...its not like the battery life is much better its a little better..BUT THATS with LTE, a bigger screen etc and the battery capacity it self is about the same as the previous two iPhones and considering all that, its quite damm amazing.

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Thanks for all the replies people! I've decided that I'm going for the 4s, as many people on this forum suggested. The primary factor behind my decision was the Siri functionality and the fact that the smaller form factor fits into this nook I use in my car, is more pleasant to hold, and will scratch less easily. In the long run, even if the iphone 5 cost $0 and I had to pay $100 more for the 4s, over two years, $100 is irrelevant.

My 5 does not have any scratches on it, I suggest you should get the white 5 as it doesnt have a anodized coating like the black 5. (Btw i have a black 5 and itbis still pristine)

 

[BiggAW]

If you really want an iPhone 4, buy a 5, sell it, buy a 4 used, and pocket a LOT more than $200 saved.

^^^ This. But I'd keep my options open, and only upgrade to the latest LTE phone. LTE is coming, and coming fast, even on AT&T, so it's foolish to lock into something that doesn't have it unless you get a lot of $$$ for flipping an iPhone 5.